Britain follows US and bans passengers from taking laptops onto UK-bound flights from the Middle East after ISIS ‘computer bomb’ threat

Sources claimed terror concerns would lead to the UK taking the dramatic step on routes from as many as eight countries

By Steve Hawkes and Tom Newton Dunn

21st March 2017, 1:56 pm

Updated: 22nd March 2017, 6:32 am

ISLAMIC terrorists have devised a devastating new laptop bomb that could bring down a jumbo — it emerged last night.

In a dramatic move, Theresa May ordered airlines to ban passengers from taking large electronic devices such as tablets into the cabin on non-stop UK bound-flights from six countries including Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The decision comes a year after a laptop bomb blew a hole in a Somalian plane

He said: “Safety and security is our highest priority. Decisions like these are not taken lightly.

“We are confident our measures are proportionate.”

It sparked an angry response in Turkey and the Middle East and threatens chaos for passengers.

Travellers will now be forced to check-in laptops, tablets such as iPads and Kindles when they arrive at the airport for flights to the UK from six nations - Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

British Airways last night was already advising Brits to arrive earlier for their flights home.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling separately said the measures were “necessary, effective and proportionate”.

Airports affected by the ban

Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar

Dubai International Airport, UAE

Abu Dhabi International Airport, UAE

Ataturk International Airport, Istanbul, Turkey

Queen Alia International Airport, Amman, Jordan

Cairo International Airport, Egypt

King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Mohammed V Airport, Casablanca, Morocco

Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait

He added the Government insisted was not “currently” advising against flying to and from the six countries covered by the ban.

The security tightening comes just weeks after it was revealed UK security services have foiled 13 potential attacks in less than four years.

In 2014, passengers at UK airports were advised to ensure devices were charged so security staff could check them before allowing passengers onto aircraft.

The US ban affects 10 airports in eight countries.

Unnamed US officials said the crackdown followed threats from Al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula.

Turkish Airlines was last night said to be challenging the crackdown.

But Emirates issued a light-hearted response on Twitter – using a Jennifer Aniston ad to highlight its own in-flight entertainment system.

Shashank Joshi, senior research fellow at security think-tank the Royal United Services Institute, said the ban could stoke tensions triggered by Donald Trump’s attempted travel ban on Muslim-majority countries.

Mr Joshi: “It is unclear why only some airlines and countries are affected, given that a potential attacker can easily re-route their journey.”